Platform Lead Engineer / AI & Developer Productivity

Waltham , MassachusettsHybridDirect Hire$180k - $220kAI Engineer (Generative AI & Backend Systems) A fast-growing technology company located in Waltham, MA (Hybrid - 3 days onsite) is seeking a full-time AI Engineer to design and develop production-grade AI applications. This position combines backend software engineering, cloud-native development, and generative AI technologies to deliver intelligent customer-facing solutions. The ideal candidate brings strong software engineering fundamentals alongside experience integrating machine learning and large language models into real-world products.Unlike many AI positions focused solely on prototyping, this role centers on shipping scalable systems that create measurable business impact. You'll work directly on the architecture, deployment, monitoring, and optimization of AI-powered applications while helping shape the organization's approach to generative AI. This is a great opportunity for an engineer who wants to move beyond experimentation and build technology used in production every day. Required Skills & Experience 4+ years of backend software development experience Strong programming skills in Python, Java, Go, or similar languages Experience deploying machine learning or LLM-powered solutions in production environments Experience building APIs, services, and scalable distributed applications Strong understanding of cloud infrastructure and modern software architecture Experience monitoring, evaluating, and improving AI system performance Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities Excellent communication and collaboration skills Desired Skills & Experience Hands-on experience building Generative AI applications Familiarity with LLM evaluation methodologies and frameworks Production monitoring and observability experience Experience designing highly available service architectures Strong systems design background Experience owning products, services, or features from concept to launch Background working within high-growth engineering organizations What You Will Be Doing Tech Breakdown 40% Generative AI Development 35% Backend Engineering & Service Development 15% AI Quality, Monitoring & Reliability 10% Architecture & Technical Design Daily Responsibilities 80% Hands-On Development 10% Cross-Functional Collaboration 10% Technical Planning & Design The Offer $180,000 - $220,000 Bonus eligibleYou will receive the following benefits:Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Vacation Time 401(k) Hybrid Work Environment Exposure to Emerging AI TechnologiesApplicants must be currently authorized to work in the US on a full-time basis now and in the future.